Guided by heat and pressure, a vine-like robot slips through arteries and engines, navigates where humans and tools can’t.
Reaching tight or delicate spaces, such as human blood vessels or engine valves, is difficult because rigid tools cannot bend or twist without causing damage. Conventional robots struggle in these confined areas, where precision and flexibility are critical.
To address this, engineers develop a soft robotic system that moves like a growing vine. The robot moves using a thin electronic skin made of liquid crystal elastomer integrated with heating elements and pressure sensors. The heaters control the temperature of the actuators, while internal pressure systems adjust the robot’s shape and direction. Together, these electronic and mechanical controls enable it to twist, grow, and steer through narrow paths with high precision.
The robot grows from its tip through a process called tip extension, turning its body inside out as it advances. This allows forward motion without friction against surrounding surfaces, preventing damage to delicate structures. The combination of heat-driven actuation and pressure regulation gives fine directional control in confined environments.
The size of the robot is about 3 to 7 millimetres in diameter and about 25 centimetres in length. It successfully navigates through models of human arteries and jet engines. It makes multiple turns exceeding 100 degrees and squeezes through openings half its width.
The study demonstrates how integrating simple electronic heating and pressure systems into soft materials can overcome limitations in robotic navigation. The design eliminates the need for motors or rigid circuits, relying instead on embedded electronics to manage movement in real time.
This technology could lead to new tools for medical procedures, industrial inspection, and maintenance in areas inaccessible to conventional machines. The combination of soft materials and compact electronic control marks a step toward adaptable robotic systems for precision tasks in confined or sensitive environments.
